Retired District 113 Teacher Opposes Referendum

We are writing with concern about District 113’s proposed referendum for enlargement of Highland Park and Deerfield High School’s athletic and classroom facilities.

In the face of dropping school enrollments, District 112’s need for capital improvements, the persistently sluggish economic recovery and deflated home values, we feel the referendum would place an unwarranted tax burden on the citizens of Highland Park and Deerfield. 

While the current referendum asks “only” $89 million, the actual cost of the Phase One project that tax payers will be funding is $120.4 million; not too far south of the $133 million District 113 asked for two years ago. District 113 says it will use an additional $25 million from existing budgets, which are funded with taxpayer money, and is betting on $6.4 million in cost reductions from contractor price adjustments to complete funding for this project. Even if the $6.4 million in contractor adjustments are realized, $114 million is still a substantial sum taxpayers are being asked to finance.

As a retired District 113 teacher, over half of my pension goes to our property tax. The State Legislature is planning to cut the pensions and benefits of public employees. If this is enacted and the referendum passes, we will not be able to stay in our home. In the current market we would not be able to sell our home for enough profit to purchase another Highland Park house, nor would many other area residents. 

A better plan for improving the facilities of both schools has been proposed by a group of citizens called, Education First. This plan MUST be considered by the District 113 Board, while the currently proposed referendum MUST be denied.

Marilyn and Fred Putz
Highland Park residents

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